Installation of the second tier of the reactor building's internal containment has been completed at unit 1 of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant under construction in Turkey.
“The installation of the second tier of the containment brings us one step closer to completing the construction of the first power unit,” said Sergey Butskikh, first deputy general director and director of the nucelar poewr plant.
“The second tier of the shell is one of the largest structural elements of the reactor compartment, and the successful completion of its installation is a very important event for us. At the next stage, the mounted structure is reinforced, formwork is installed on it, and concreting continues.”
After installation, which was carried out with the help of a Liebherr LR 13000 crawler crane, the height of the reactor building increased by 12 metres – from +4.95 to +16.95 metres. The total weight of the mounted structure was 411 tons with a diameter of more than 20 metres. The internal containment will consist of three tiers and a dome. As soon as installation is completed, it will be tested for leaks.
Akkuyu Nuklear said work is being carried out simultaneously for three of the four units planned at Akkuyu. Concreting of the foundation slab has been completed and the core catcher has been installed at Akkuyu 1, while concreting of the foundation slabs of the reactor compartment and the turbine building of Akkuyu 2 are expected to be completed soon. Meanwhile, drilling and blasting operations are being carried out to excavate the pit for the nuclear island of Akkuyu 3.
The 4800MWe Akkuyu nuclear power plant will comprise four VVER-1200 reactors and is expected to meet about 10% of Turkey's electricity needs. Rosatom’s first build-own-operate venture, the $20bn project is based on an inter-governmental agreement signed between Russia and Turkey in May 2010.
The Akkuyu nuclear power plant will comprise four Russian-designed generation 3+ VVER-1200s, with an outer containment to protect the reactor, steam generators and other equipment from extreme external hazards., Akkuyu Nuklear said.
VVER-1200 units are also under construction in Belarus, China, Egypt, and Bangladesh, with three units already operating in Russia at the Novovoronezh (two units) and Leningrad nuclear plants.
Photo: Second tier of the containment was installed at Akkuyu 1 nuclear power plant in Turkey (Credit: Akkuyu Nuklear)
